Page 33 of Exposed

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ROCKET MAN

MATT

While she’s showering, I get a heating pad, wrap it in a towel and plug it in to warm up on her nightstand.

“Hey,” her voice has me turning around from where I’m fluffing her pillow on the bed.

“Hey, you,” I smile, taking in her shiny, wet hair and her makeup-less face. She’s got on her oversized, light pink shirt, the same one she wears every night. I don’t think she has anything else, but she looks beautiful in it.

“What does this mean for us?” She asks as she slowly walks to the bed.

“We're adults. We can do whatever we want, and I want to help you relax after a long day. I’ve had an exhausting couple of days. This’ll do wonders for both of us.”

“Will it be awkward after?” She questions.

“Not unless we make it that way. This doesn’t mean we’re committed to each other. I won’t propose marriage to you tomorrow,” I laugh in an attempt to lighten the mood.

After my heartbreak with Grace, I’m not sure I can offer my heart again. Not to mention, Pepper has secrets. Whenever she figures out her life, she’ll leave.

“Neither of us is looking for a relationship, but we can have fun together. Let’s make a stressful time a little less so,” I offer.

She nods thoughtfully. “We’re like friends with benefits?”

“Roommates with benefits,” I correct.

“Ready for the best orgasm any man’s ever given you?”

“Bring it on, Matt.”

I point to a cup of water and Tylenol. “Are you in pain? I brought you Tylenol.”

“Yeah, that would be great, actually.” She takes the Tylenol with water.

“Here’s a heating pad. It’s warmed up and ready for you.”

“You thought of everything,” she smiles. “It’s been months since I’ve had an orgasm. Haven’t felt comfortable doing that in my car,” she shrugs.

“I can understand that,” I nod. “Lay down and put the heating pad on your stomach.”

She submits beautifully, laying on her back on the bed. Her hair fans out over the gray pillowcase.

“Relax. Let me do all the work,chaton.”

“Sha-what?” She asks.

“It’skittenin French. My mom is French. Did she tellyou? Aveline Island where I grew up has strong French roots.”

“Yeah, she mentioned that.”

“I want to give you a scalp massage. You good with that?” I ask.

“Duh,” she responds with a grin.

“Okay, brat,” I weave my fingers in her hair.

“Seriously, do anything you want. It’s been way too long since a guy has touched me. Have at it,” she grins and closes her eyes.

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